Press Releases
Advisory - New Precautionary Measure: Leave Of Absence for Preschool Staff and Children Returning From China
27 Jan 2020
Child Care Centres will re-open on 28 Jan 2020, while Kindergartens will re-open on 29 Jan 2020, as scheduled. The Early Childhood Development Agency (ECDA) will be stepping up precautionary measures for preschools to ensure the health and wellbeing of all children and staff in preschools, in view of the evolving Wuhan coronavirus situation in China.Travel Advisory
2 As the 2019-nCoV situation in China continues to evolve, the Ministry of Health advises travellers to defer all non-essential travel to Mainland China.
a) Preschool employees who intend to travel overseas, or have returned from overseas in the last 14 days, should declare their travel plans and travel history to their preschool promptly, and follow other instructions from the preschools.
b) Families with preschool children who intend to travel overseas, or have returned from overseas in the past 14 days, should declare their travel plans and travel history to their children’s preschool promptly, and follow other instructions from the preschools.
Leave of Absence for preschool employees & children returning from China
3 To safeguard the health of all members of the preschool community, preschools are to implement a Leave of Absence (LOA) of 14 days for employees and preschool children returning from Mainland China–
a. on and from 28 January 2020,
b. as well as those who returned within the last 14 days (i.e. from 14 January to 27 January 2020).
4 This means that any preschool employee or preschool child returning from Mainland China during this period should not attend preschool for 14 days from the date of their return to Singapore, as a precautionary measure.
They should:
a. declare their travel history to the preschool;
b. not report to the preschool during the 14-day period;
c. monitor their health and seek medical attention promptly if feeling unwell.
Illustration: The date of return to Singapore would be considered Day 0. The preschool employee or preschool child may then return to the preschool on Day 15. What this means is:
i. If you return to Singapore from Mainland China on 28 Jan 2020 (Day 0), you may attend preschool on 12 Feb 2020 (Day 15).
ii. If you return to Singapore from Mainland China on 3 Feb 2020 (Day 0), you may attend preschool on 18 Feb 2020 (Day 15).
iii. If you had returned to Singapore from Mainland China on 14 Jan 2020 (Day 0), you may attend preschool on 29 Jan 2020 (Day 15).
5 Preschools should provide paid Leave of Absence for affected employees, and monitor their health closely during LOA.
6 For parents of affected preschool children who need financial assistance or support during this period, they should approach the nearest Social Service Office (https://www.msf.gov.sg/dfcs/s
7 Preschool operators and principals should remain vigilant and conduct health checks for all children, employees and visitors. Parents and visitors who are unwell (i.e. have fever or flu-like symptoms) should not enter the preschool’s premises.Preschools should also continue to ensure good environmental hygiene and monitor the health of all employees and children in the centre.
8 For clarifications, please contact ECDA via email: Contact@ecda.gov.sg or Tel: 6735 9213 (Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 5.30pm).
Thank you.
Early Childhood Development Agency
Click here for Advisory for Preschools.
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here for Advisory for Parents.